Steam-plow



(No Model.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. "G. F. JOHNSON. 1 I l STEAM PLOW. No. 517,047.Patented Mar. 27,1894.

(No Mod-51.)

0,. P. JOHNSON. STEAM PLOW.

No. 517,047. Patent dM ar. 27, 1894.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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ONNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. JOHNSON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

STEAM- PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,047, dated March27, 189%.

Application filed $epte'm'ber 14. 1893. Serial ITO-485,517. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. JOHNSON, of Hartford,in the countyofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Steam-Flows, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art canmake and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of steam plows in which the plow issupported on a carriage and is moved in a line transversely to the pathof forward movement of the carriage, and the object of my invention isto provide a steam plow in which the power expended in driving the plowis mainly utilized in plowing and not in moving the entire machine andcarriage.

To this end my invention consists in details of the several parts makingup the steam plow as a whole and in the combination of such parts asmore particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of asteam plow embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of theplow. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the rear end of the machineshowing the arrangement of the plows. Fig. 4 is adetail view on anenlarged scale showing one of the plows and the chain supporting it.Fig. 5 is a detail top or plan view of a section of the frame and chainsupporting the plows.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes the main frame of thesteam plow which is provided with driving wheels I) and a steering wheela. A steam boiler d and a steam engine e of ordinary construction aremounted on the frame in convenient position for providing the motivepower and for operating the plow as a whole. This engine is connected tothe main shaft f and bears a cog wheel f in mesh with a cog wheel g on ashaft g which bears a removable cog g in mesh with the removable cog hon a shaft h; the latter bears on its inner end a bevel gear h in meshwith the bevel gear h which is fast to the axle b on which the drivingwheels I) are secured. By means of the motive power as described thewheels b are turned so as to move the frame a in the desired direction,the steering wheel 0 being utilized as by means of the steering gear 0'to direct the movement of the frame.

Across the rear of the main frame a, plow frames Zr; Z are supported,these two being onset as shown but firmly united, a driving shaft mborne on the inner frame It being united, as by a couplingi to the shaftg. Each of the plow frames 70, Z, supports sprocket-wheels n, 'n, andthey serve to drive the endless chains 0 0'. These chains 0,0, aresupported in ways in the frame and are provided with anti frictionrollers'0 0 to reduce the friction and more readily support the plows p,p, which are suspended from the chains. 'By the means de scribed thechain 0 is given a movement in a direction which will drive the plowacross the line of movement of the main frame a and draw it inwardtoward the center line of the frame while the other plow, whichissupported in the plow frame Z, is also driven inward and across theline of movement of the main frame but in a direction against the lineof the plows p. The shafts in which the inner sprocket-wheels in each ofthe frames is and Z turn are extended and supportgearwheels that are inmesh with each other so that the rotary movement of one of the sprocket--wheels is transmitted to a sprocket-wheel on the other frame, causingit to turn in a reverse direction. By this means the endless chains arecaused to movein opposite directions and carry the plows borne on eachchain along under the frame in the act of plowing and then up over theframe to the outer end when by the entry of the plow into the ground anew furrow is started. By means of this arrangement of the frames andthe plows secured to the endless chains moved on the frames theresistance ofiered by a plow supported in the frame It in turning afurrow is opposed by the resistance offered by a plow v 1) supported inthe frame Z, these two forces counteracting each other and preventingany sidewise or twisting strain from being thrown upon the main frame aso as to change the direction of forward movement of such frame. Theactual line of movement of the plows in plowing is in a diagonal line,the forward motion of the main frame being one element and the inwardmovement of the plow carried by the endless chain being theotherelement. The

resultant of the forward movement lengthwise of the main frame andinward movement transversely to the main frame is a line slightlyinclined to a line at right angles to the line of forward movement ofthe main frame. These plow frames 7%) and Z are supported on the outerend of movable arms r, '1", which are connected with a lifting mechanism3 that includes a winch or a drum which may be moved by hand or drivenby the steam engine 6. The function of this mechanism is to liftthe plowframes a sufficient height to enable the machine as a whole to be drivenalong a road or across a field with the plows held above the surfaceuntilthe special field to be plowed is reached, when the frame islowered and the plows entered to cut the furrows; the plows may also belifted to enable the machine to change direction at the end of thefield. The l inner side of the plow frame It is provided with a catch15' adapted to engage a pin on the bracket. 15 when the frame is droppedand in position for the plow to operate, this bracket formingabraceorstiffeningdevicetostrengthen the plow frame and its connection withthe L It also serves to hold the main 3 main frame. shaft g and shaft777. in proper alignment for the coupling means to operate.

Each of the several plows is suspended from 1 the endless chain by ayielding connecting device which permits the plow share to have a motionin a vertical plane so as to enableit In the form shown 1 to override anobstacle. the connecting means comprises the drawbars u, it, onedraw-bar extending from the pivot of one of the wheels 0 to the frontend of the plow, and the other 10' extending from the pivot of the wheelnext in rear to the rear of the plow to which it is attached by means ofa pivot bolt. A spring 1; supported on the pivot 0 thrusts downward uponthe plow and serves to hold it in proper position for turn-- ing afurrow. The limit of downward movement of the plow is determined by thechain 10 extending from the endless chain and connecting to the plow asby passing it through an opening therein and hooking it, as shown, onthe standing part of the chain. This provides a convenient means foradjusting the length of the chain 10 thereby controlling the extent ofdownward movement of the plow share.

The chains which draw the plows are of ordinary construction consistingof two parallel lines of links connected by cross-bars which passthrough eyes in the ends of the links and project far enough to form theaxles of the friction-wheels and rollers 0 which run in ways and groovesin the plow frames and are secured by keys or link pins passing throughthe ends of the cross-bars. Each of the several plows is suspended fromthe endless chain by a yielding connecting device which permits theplow-share to have a motion in a vertical plane so as to enable it tooverride an obstacle. In the form shown the connecting means comprlsethe draw-bars a,

the inside of the furrow.

a, one draw-bar pivoted by a broad jaw head onto the cross-bar of one ofthe wheels 0 and extending to the front end of the plow to which it isattached by a pivot-bolt, and the other pivoted on the cross-bar next inrear and extending to the rear of the plow, to which it is attached bymeans of a pivotbolt.

The two draw-bars are of the same or nearly the same length, and thepins on the plow to which they are pivoted are at the same distanceapart, measuring parallel to the furrow, as the cross-bar to which theupper ends are pivoted, so that as the plow rises or falls it is alwaysparallel to the ground, the rollers on the cross-bars remaining ofcourse in the Ways. The function of this combination of pivoteddraw-bars, spring and chain is not only to allow the plow on meeting aroot or other fixed obstacle to pass over it, or else to bring theengine to a stand without a sudden shock, but also to allow theadjustment in depth of the plows, and also, when the plow frames arelowered on beginning operations to allow the plows to remain on top ofthe ground while the frame descends to its position, the weight of theframes compressing the plow spring. The moment the machine is startedthe plows will be drawn into the ground as deep as the chains willallow.

The rollers on the cross-bars already described relieve all frictionresulting from the upward or downward strain of the plows. But it isevident that a lateral and a twisting strain will be transmitted throughthe draw-bars which will result in both vertical and horizontal pressureon the chain. The friction resulting from horizontal or lateral strainsis relieved as follows: The cross-bars to which the draw-bars arepivoted are connected with open links and in these open links arecarried rollers 0 0 with a vertical axis rolling on the frame betweenthe ways. Furthermore these links are connected by diagonal braces sothat the construction forms a rigid truck, carrying in all eight wheels.As the lateral thrusts of the plows is thusprovided for there is nonecessity for any landside on the plows. The resistance to drawing themwill be materially lessened and the thrust resulting from the obliqueaction of the mold-board will be utilized in propelling the machineforward.

The pivots on the plow to which the drawbars are attached, are, ifmeasured on a line parallel to the furrow, as far apart as are thecross-bars, but as one draw-bar goes to the front and one to the rear ofthe mold-board the pivots are not on the same distance from Thisnecessitates bending one draw-bar to the right and the other to theleft. Since they are attached to opposite sides of the plow they willbrace one another and will hold it much more firmly than if both were ina line with the axis of the draft.

It is evident that the frontdraw-bar if rigidly IIO attached to thecross-bar, and the cross-bar rigidly attached to the open links might,if made of the proper shape, act as the spring. Furthermore if it wererigidly attached to the plow instead of being pivoted the rear cross-barmight be dispensed with. The principle would bevirtuallythe same, butthe plow would 'not be held so firmly, nor would it rise parallel toitself. This feature of vertical adjustability of the plow share formsan important feature of my invention, as to enable the frames supportingthe plows to be placed at the proper level with the shafts in alignmentwhile the plows themselves rest on the surface of the ground.

The gear wheels 9 and h are removably secured to the respective shaftsin order to provide means for varying the rate of motion by changing therelative sizes of the wheels, or any other convenient means for varyingthe speed of the shafts may be employed.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a main frame carryingthe shaft driving mechanism, the transverse plow frames with plowdriving mechanism removably coupled to the driving shaft on the mainframe, plows borne on endless chains on the respective frames andadapted to move in opposite directions on the respective frames,mechanism for lifting the plow frames and driving mechanism for movingthe plows, all substantially as described.

2. In a machine plow, a main frame carrying a driving shaft and meansfor turning it, the transverse plow frames hinged to the main frame, theplow shares supported. from an endless chain on the plow frame, thechain driving shaft detachably coupled to said driving shaft on the mainframe, and the draw bars appurtenant to each plow share and extendingrespectively to the front and rear of each plow share, all substantiallyas described.

3. In combination with amain frame and mechanism for propelling thesame, the transverse plow frames, the plow shares supported from anendless chain on said frame, the draw-bars connecting each plow to thechain,

a spring thrusting downward upon the plow,

and a chain or'like device limiting the downward movement of the plow,all substantially as described.

4. In a machine plow in combination with a main frame, the transverseframes secured together and both supporting sprocket wheels driven inreverse direction from a central source of power, the endless chainsborne on draw-bars wherebya yielding movement in a vertical plane ispermitted, all substantially as described.

5. In combination with a main frame, the transverse plow frames securedthereto, the plows movably supported on the respective frames andadapted to be driven in opposite directions, means for operating theplows, the mechanism for lifting the plow frames and the bracket andcatch uniting the main frame and the plow frame, all substantially asdescribed.

6. In a machine plow in combination with a plow frame, the endless chainsupporting a number of plow shares and the draw-bars of substantiallyequal length attachedrespectively to the carrying chain and to the frontand rear ends of the plow shares, all substantially as described. r l

7. In combination in a machine plow, a plow frame, the endless chainsupported on said frame, the chain driving mechanism, the plow shareseach pivotally connected to the driving chain, and the two draw-barseach inclined sidewisein opposite directions and attached respectivelyto the front and rear ends of the plow shares on opposite sides of theline of draft, all substantially as described.

8. In combination in.a machine plow,the plow frames, the endless chain,the plow shares supported on said chain, and the double set of rollers,one 'set carried on a vertical axis and the other set carried on ahorizontal axis, all substantially as described.

9. In a machine plow, in combination with the plow frame, the endlesschain incl-udinga series of open links braced laterally and providedwith the lateral anti-friction rollers, all substantially as described.

10. In a machine plow, in combination with the main frame, a transverseplow frame hinged to the main frame, frame-lifting mechanism, an endlesschain borne on the plow frame, the chain driving mechanism, and a plowshare supported on the endless chain and having a yielding connectiontherewith whereby the plow frame can be lowered while the plows remainon the ground, all substantially as described.

CHARLES F. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

CHASJL. BURDETT, I ARTHUR B. JENKINS.

